COUNTY and Tony Dinning mutually agreed to the cancellation of his contract on Friday.

With the current lack of opportunities at Edgeley Park, manager Jim Gannon and Dinning both agreed he should be given the chance to try and secure first-team opportunities elsewhere.

The club thanked Dinning [pictured left] for his efforts during two spells at Edgeley Park and wished him well for the future.

Managing director Mark Maguire said: "Clearly at this stage of Tony’s career it is important that he is playing football and, due to the lack of opportunity here, we felt it right to assist Tony by agreeing to cancel his contract.

"I’m sure Tony takes some good memories with him from his two spells at County, most recently his involvement in the historic nine in a row run of victories.

"We wish him luck."

Dinning added: "I am very sad to be leaving the club as I’ve enjoyed my association with County.

"However, I need to be playing and now hope to get the chance of first-team football elsewhere.

"I wish County all the best for the rest of the season and thank the fans for their support."

Dinning, now 32, originally joined County back in 1994 from Newcastle United. During his first spell with the club he helped them win promotion to the second tier of English football in 1997.

He joined Wolves in September 2000 in a £700,000 deal, and has since served Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, Walsall, Blackpool, Ipswich Town, Bristol City and Port Vale.

He rejoined the Hatters in the summer of 2006 and in total has made 264 senior appearances in County blue, scoring 32 goals.